Pyrotechnic device



June 30, 1953 H. c. cLAusER ErAL 2,643,510

PYROTECHNIC DEVICE a Filed May 24, 1947- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j r W INVENTORS. HERBERT c. GLAUSER ROBERT 8. LONG Ti 12 flffflmy a Oll m l 24M FIG. I

June 30, 1953 H. c. LAU$ER arm.

PYROTECHNIC DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1947 m 4 m 5 a mmm m mum W 2 3 IO.T m I". mi T.R L muv 4 m mm w m a n Y B x m T/IJS I05 w PYROTECHNIC DEVICE Herbert C2 Clauserand Robert. S. Long, Westerville, Ohio, assignors',

Kil'gore, of'Ohio by mesne assignments, to Incl, Westerville, hio,a corporation- Apn fi n-M v 24 1947, Ser-ialNo. 7.50.246

I Glaiin. I.

This invention relates. to pyrotechnic, devices, andmore particularly. to :a buoyadaptied to eject a projectile. containing a. signal such asap chute flare.

Qneof the objects of. this invention isto provide apyrotechnic device in which there is, a casing. adaptedto be dropped. from anaircraftinto water, the casing. being sufliciently buoyant to float in an upright position, andwhichalso containsmeans for discharging a projectile supportinga signal, such as aparachutei'iare, from its position in. the water.

Another. objectis to provide-a pyrotechnic, device of the-character described inwhichthe assembly. includes, a casing. adapted, to be. dropped. into water. from. anaircraft, for example, the casing being sufiiciently buoyant to floatin an up-i right positiomand which contains amortar for discharging from the casing into the air aprojectile having a signallingmeans, such asa parachute fiare. operating to indicate or illuminate the position, of thefioatingcasing.

An additional. object is. to provide a pyrotechnic device having, an. elongated casing which is open at the top and has a mortar sealed therein,. an airchamber alsotbeing formed therein so thatthe. assembly can be drQPped. into a .body of.water and float. inan upright positionrfroin which a projectile containing a signal can be fired .toindicate the location ofthefioating device.

It is also an objectto provide .a. device of the character described in whichthereis amortar havingapmjectile arrangedin anejectable positionptherein, the, base of? the. projectile .havinga. pocket for a propelling; charge ofipowder. and. a. rupturable wall over the pocket, there also. being a signal, means. carried within, theprojectileand. an expelling charge therefor so that when the projectile is. expelledfrom. the mortar the upper. wall. of the. base, of the projectile provides a. means for separating the expellingcharge for the signalmeansfrom the-propelling charge for. the projectile.

Further objectsand advantagesof. this invention will be apparentirom thefollowing description, thev appended olainrand .theaccompanying drawings in which apreferred form of one em.- bodiment of the present inventionis shown.

In the drawings Fig. 1. is.a view in elevation. which islbroken asindicated, illustratingapyrotechnic,deviceemv bodying. one form of the presentinvention;

Rig. ,2, is a view. invertical section through the deyiccof Rig. 1. taken substantially on, the. center; linexandatright anglesaaseen, therein;

Fig. 31s a view partially in vertical section and in. elevation, on a. larger scale than in Fig. 1, of a portion of the mortar and projectile shown in Fig, 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section, on a larger scale than in Fig. 3, of the lower or base portion of'the device illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5'is a plan view of the fin construction employed in connection with the device of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the" pyrotechnic de: vice 2| shown includes a cylindrical casing 22 having a head 24 and base 25. The head-24 and the base 25 are secured to the casing 22 by a plurality of screws 21. Afinassembly 28 is at tached' to the head724 by screws 29. Suspension bands 3! surround the casin 22 and are provided with openings 32.

pyrotechnic device to an aircraft for example.

,An igniter 33 extends through the wall of the which comprises a mortar base 3! anchored to the. buoy base 25 by the screws 38, and a cylindrical tube 39'is threaded'into the threaded opening 40, in the motor base 31. The upper end of the tube 39'extends through an openin in the casing head 24 and is threaded to receive a collar 43'. When the collar 43'is drawn tightly onto the top of'head 24', it forms a seal to prevent the ingress of, water into the casing 22 and also firmly holds the upper part of the tube 39 in position.

A projectile 45; Fig. 3, disposed within the mortar tube 39 includes a base 46 and a metal shell. or cylindrical tube 41. A parachute 49 is contained within the upper part. of the tube 41 and a candle 5U iscarried in the tube below the parachute. The parachute is provided with a chord 51 which is connected with ametallic cable 52'to the upper portion of the candle 5D. The

parachute 49 is folded in a. thrust cylinder 53 formed of heavy cardboard.

The candle Slicomprises a cylindrical casing 55' formed of heavy cardboard which is covered with a zinc sheathing 56. The upper endof the.

candleiscovered by a cap 58 which issecured to the cardboard, by screws 59. folded cable. 52'. The lower. end? The end of the is. suitably connected tothe. cap. of the casing,5 5. and the, sheath A cable (not shown). passes through the opening 32 for securing the" 2,643,610 r v Q I 56 therefore extends within a circular groove at in the top side of a steel ring 62. A zinc d sc 63 having a central opening 54, is soldered to the bottom base of the ring or collar 62. her of strands of quickmatch 56 extend across the opening 64 and a thin layer of readily ignitable black powder 61 is disposed onthe disc 53. A layer of readily ignitable but slow burning powder is disposed above the black powder $1. This readily ignitable but slow burning powder 68 ignites the candle material 10 which is interposed substantially throughout the length of the casing 55 between the powder 68 and a cylindrical block of clay H. The upper end of the tube ii! is closed by a cap 13 which is held in place by tape 1d. A cardboard disc 15 is inter;- posed between the upper end of the cylinder or sleeve 53 and the cap 13. I j The candle 50 and the parachute 55 are forcibly ejected through the upper end of the tube 41 by the expansion of gases below the zinc disc 53. The steel ring or collar 62 prevents the mutilation of the bottom of the candle when the gas there below expands. When upper move ment is imparted to the candle 59, this movement will be imparted to the parachute 49 and the cylinder or sleeve '5 through a heavy. felt disc H which is interposed between the candle and the parachute and sleeve. The upward movement of the sleeve 53, through the disc 15,

forcesthe cap 13 ofi of the end of the tube M whereby the candle and parachute are expelled from the tube 41. The cardboard casing or sleeve 55 of the candle 50 is sufiiciently stable to prevent mutilation of the candle while it is being ejected and the sleeve 53 functions as av thrust member for protecting the parachute 49. The felt disc 11 interposed between the parachute and the candle 50 functions as a fire wall to prevent any burning gases which may surround the candle '50, during the ejection thereof, from igniting the parachute.

The base 46 of the projectile 45 includes a bottom plug or cap 18 having the upper end thereof suitably secured in the bottom end of tube 47. providing a pocket 19 foran expelling charge of powder 85. A rupturable disc 16 covers the pocket 19. A cushioning disc 8| rests upon the disc 36, said disc being known as a setback wad and is preferably formed of pressed ground cork. The disc 63 of the candle case rests upon the cushioning disc 81. Cushioning disc 81 is for the purpose of absorbing some of V the shock which is imparted to the candle case when the expelling charge 80 is ignited.

Vhen the expelling charge 80 is ignited, the expanding gases will rupture the disc 16, and

drive the cushioning disc 81 upwardly to causev the candle 50 and the parachute 9 to be ejected as previously explained. A central hole .82 is formed in the disc 8| so that the strands of quickmatch 68 are subjected to the fire of the expelling charge 89. As the candle and parachute are expelled from the projectile tube 41, the candle material will be ignited through the burning of powder 68, the powder 68 being of such character as to expel and ignite the candle material H5 at the same time. The expelling and igniting actions thus being substantially simultaneous.

The plug18 includes a downwardly extending shank 83 which merges from a large portion 84 to a smaller portion 85. The large portion 84 is exteriorly threaded as at 86 onto which is A numthreaded a container 81. A metallic cover 88, such as sheet copper, surrounds the container 81, the lip BS'thereof covering the top of the container. The container 81 can be drawn tightly onto the plug 78 through the threads 86 and constitutes a seal, no additionalsealing washer being required between-.thetop side of the lip 89 and the bottom of the plug. A ring 9|, having the general contour of the upper corner of the container 87 and the cover 88, on it under side, and being fiat on its top side to conform to the bottom of the plug 18, is interposed between the cover 88 and the bottom of the plug 18 and is utilized for preventing distortion of the cover 88 i. e., to such an extent as would allow the v gases generated from the burning of the pro- A recess is formedin the top of the plug 18,

pelling' charge from blowing out along the top of the cover 88. This ring 94 formed with an inner feather edge 90 is fastened in position when the container 81 is threaded into position.

The container 87 is hollowed out to 'forin a pocket 92 for a charge of propelling powder 93. The bottom 94 of the container 81 is provided with a plurality ofholes 95 and. thebottom sides of these holes are closed by a rupturabl'e disc 96 which is preferably formed of lead. The shank portion 85 of plug 18 extends through the pocket 92 and through the bottom 94 of the container Bland is threaded as at 91. A circular and inwardly extending lip 99 at the bottom of the. cover 88 covers'part of the bottom 94 .of the container 87 and this lip 99 and the disc 96 are held in position by a cap. l lll This cap has a central opening 102 surrounding the shank B5 of Plug 78 and is held in position by a nut I03 threaded 7 onto the thread 91 of the shank85. Cap H3! is provided with a plurality of openings 1.05 which are aligned with the holes 95 in the bottom 94 'of container 81. V Thecentral portion of the plug 18 is provided with aligned bores I66 and I01, the upper bore being somewhat smaller in diameter than the lower. The upper bore IDB leads to the recess or pocket 19 while the lower bore extends of small restricted openings H0 extending laterally through the cup within the upper portion thereof, and which communicate with the powder 80 within the pocket 19, the fuse being adapted to ignite the powder 80 through said openings H0. Th e cartridge [H is held in position by a sleeve H3 which inturn is held in position by a lock screw J14. Sleeve 113 seats at its upper end against the shoulder portion of the fuse housing I09 to retain the latter in position. A series of transverse holes in the sleeve H3 are aligned with a series of transverse holes S6 in the shank portion 85 of the plug 18 for connecting the interior of the sleeve H3 with the powder 93 in pocket 92. The sleeve H3 and the holes 5 and H6 are filled with a black powder I I1 and the outer ends of the holes l 16 are closed by a tape H8, of paper or the like, for retaining the powder ll! within the holes. A quickmatch fuse l2ll extends within the lower part of the sleeve and is surrounded byblack powder H7. This quickmatch I20 is adapted to be ignited by a. "safety 'fu se 122 which extends through the lower part of bore I23 and is held in position by a collar I24 threaded into threaded portion I 69 of the bore I07. The safety fuse I22 is preferably of the Ensign-Bickford type that burns at the rate of approximately a foot per five (5) seconds. The fuse extends through an opening in the mortar base 3'! and is wound spirally about the cylindrical tube 39 and the upper end thereof is connected with the igniter 33.

When the powder II? is ignited by the quickmatch I through the fuse I22, the tapes IE8 closing the holes IE6 leading to the powder 93 in pocket 92 are burned away. This will cause the ignition of the expelling charge 93. The expansion of the gases due to the ignition of the charge. 93 will rupture the disc 96, and the ex panding gases escaping through the holes 85 in the cap I0! are confined within the tube 39 and the anchor 3'! and will cause the entire projectile 45 to be ejected through the top of the tube 39. The side walls of the container 87 are provided with a series of openings I25 which are covered by the metallic cover 88. The expansion of the gases with the burning of the charge 93 will expand cover 89 into sealing engagement with the interior wall of the mortar tube 39 so as to confine the gases to below the projectile.

The casing 22 must be of sufficient length to assure buoying of the entire device 2! and since it is necessary to seal the interior of the casing 22, the mortar tube 39 must extend to the top of the head 24. The overall length of the mortar tube 39 is therefore greater than the length of the projectile 45. The projectile is retained in the bottom portion of the mortar tube 39 by a cylindrical sleeve I2? formed of heavy cardboard resting upon a wooden block 26 which in turn rests upon the top of the projectile. The top of the projectile mortar tube 39 is closed by a wooden plug I29 received within the end of the tube with a slip fit. To seal the end of the mortar tube and prevent it from taking water, a thin zinc disc l3l is soldered across the inside diameter on top of plug 929.

This sealing disc is secured in such manner to the end of the mortar tube that a shipping cap I 30 can be threadedly received thereon, as shown in Figure 2, and screwed down to afford protection during transportation. Such shipping cap is removed when the device is being made ready for attaching or mounting in the airplane so that it will be ready for launching when desired. Then when the device is fired the sealing disc I3I is separated from the mortar end at the solder seal by the upward movement of plug 129 and the thrust member I27 as the projectile moves forward.

After a predetermined length of time, dependent upon the type of fuse I09 employed, the fuse will ignite the powder 80 within the pocket I9 of the plug '18 to cause the parachute and flare to be ejected from the projectile tube 47, as previously described and to cause the ignition 0f the candle.

When the device 2| is released, the device 2i is connected with the aircraft only through a cable which is connected also to the ring 34 of the igniter. The weight of the device causes the igniter 33 to be actuated and thereafter breaks the cable. The igniter ignites the fuse I22 which is spirally wound about the mortar tube 39 and extends through a hole in the bottom of the anchor 37 to connect with the quickmatch E29 as previously described. During the downward flight of the device 2I, it is kept in a substantially vertical position by the fin assembly. After falling into the water, the device 2| initial- 1y sinks because of the momentum imparted thereto but is buoyed to the surface. The fuse I22 is of such length and type that the charge 93 will not be ignited to fire the projectile 45 until the device is buoyed on the surface of the water.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constituted a preferred form, it is'to be understood 'that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claim which follows:

We claim:

A pyrotechnic device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into a body of water and thereafter float in an upright position comprising in combination, an elongated buoyant casing having an open top and a mortar base sealing the entire bottom of the casing, a mortar supported by the base within the casing and sealed therewith at the top of the casing, the peripheral portion of said mortar housed within the casing intermediate the base and top being spaced from the casing to provide a sealed air chamber between the casing and the mortar whereby the assembly is buoyant in water, said mortar base being of sufficient weight whereby the mortar extends vertically when the device is buoyed, an elongated cylindrical projectile contained within said mortar, said projectile having a constant diameter throughout substantially the full length thereof, means for releasably retaining the projectile within the mortar prior to discharging the latter, said means including a removable plug in the upper end of the cylinder and an elongated spacer in said mortar and interposed between the top of the projectile and the bottom of the plug, said projectile containing a powder charge for expelling the projectile from the mortar, a delay fuse for igniting said powder charge housed within the sealed air chamber, and an igniter for firing the fuse.

HERBERT C. CLAUSER. ROBERT S. LONG.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,305,187 Bergman May 27, 1919 1,602,037 Mixsell Oct. 5, 1926 1,686,117 Ball Oct. 2, 1928 2,036,278 King Apr. 7, 1936 2,120,246 Fischer June 14, 1938 2,448,471 Schermuly Aug. 31, 1948 2,449,540 Albin Sept. 21, 1948 2,454,096 Schermuly Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 671,487 France Sept. 2, 1929 280,738 Italy Dec. 18, 1930 407,993 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1934 

